msmithbooks Chapter 17: Midnight SOS
Chapter 17: Midnight SOS
Inside the coffee shop, the heating was just right, and a thin layer of condensation covered the floor-to-ceiling windows.
Guan Shengbai leaned back on the sofa in the booth, his Americano had gone cold, but he didn't seem inclined to get a refill.
The woman sitting opposite him was in her early thirties, with short, ear-length hair and a slender, pretty face.
The fine lines around her eyes did not diminish her energy and spirit; on the contrary, they added a touch of mature charm to her.
She is Zeng Jia, who is Yang Mi's agent at this time.
Upon first seeing Guan Shengbai, Zeng Jia's eyes lit up.
Having studied under Li Xiaowan, one of the first generation of top agents in mainland China, her eye for talent is undeniably sharp.
Back when Yang Mi was a newcomer at Rongxinda, Zeng Jia immediately recognized her talent just by looking at the little girl, who was only ten years old.
They then invested heavily in her and promoted her.
Later, he became deeply involved with Yang Mi, leaving Rongxinda together to join Meiya, and now they are plotting their next job change.
Even in Guan Shengbai's memory, there is another example that has not yet occurred.
Years later, at the very beginning of Jiaxing Media's establishment, she spotted a Xinjiang girl who was still studying at the Shanghai Theatre Academy and signed the still clueless Dilraba to a thirteen-year contract.
Ultimately, this led to Jiaxing Media's unprecedented achievement of having "two top stars in one company".
At this moment, Zeng Jia looked at Guan Shengbai in front of her, with only one thought in her mind.
Mimi is such a good girl, we really did love her.
The young man in front of me, named Guan Shengbai, is indeed a rare gem.
At that time, the concept of "top idol" did not yet exist in the Chinese entertainment industry, but with this highly recognizable face, coupled with a rare and vibrant temperament full of wild energy in the industry...
Zeng Jia was certain that even if the boy in front of her was a complete waste of space except for his face, she was confident that she could make him a top star who was not much inferior to Yang Mi.
Moreover, she had done her homework before coming.
Director Kong Sheng's new project, "No War in Beiping," is far superior to any amateur production team.
The fact that Guan Shengbai was able to land a significant role in the show proves that his acting skills have been recognized by a reputable director.
In this way, Guan Shengbai in front of us can no longer be described as "uncut jade".
This was clearly a piece of jadeite rough that had already been cut open; the green light shining through the window made her eyes burn.
Zeng Jia picked up her latte and took a sip, her mind already racing.
What she needs to consider next is whether Guan Shengbai is a "smart person".
This would also allow her to determine how much to offer and what conditions to use to bind this promising individual for how many years.
Setting down her coffee cup, Zeng Jia gave a gentle and polite smile and began with casual conversation.
"Xiaobai, Mimi told me you're from the Beijing Film Academy? A student of Professor Chen Bing?"
"Yes, Teacher Chen taught me."
Guan Shengbai nodded, sitting upright with his hands folded on the table, looking neither overly reserved nor too casual.
"Professor Chen Bing is a star teacher at the Beijing Film Academy."
Zeng Jia smiled and sighed, then immediately changed the subject, "I heard you met Sister Chai Zhiping on the set of 'Tiny Times' before?"
"Yes, I have met her. Sister Chai is a very nice person; she even gave me her business card."
Guan Shengbai answered honestly, his tone carrying just the right amount of gratitude.
Zeng Jia's smile remained unchanged, but a sharp glint flashed in her eyes.
"Oh? Sister Chai is known for her high standards; there aren't many people she'd give you her business card to. What, haven't you considered signing with her?"
"I've considered it."
Guan Shengbai's answer was surprisingly candid, but he immediately added a sentence with a hint of hesitation in his tone.
"But... I don't quite understand."
"What do you not understand?"
Zeng Jia leaned forward slightly, adopting a posture of attentive listening.
"that is......"
Guan Shengbai frowned, as if he was trying hard but clumsily to organize his negotiation skills and rhetoric.
"Sister Jia, I won't lie to you. I've heard some things, and it seems that things haven't been going well between Senior Sister and Meiya...?"
Zeng Jia paused slightly as she picked up her coffee cup.
Her contact with Yang Mi and Huanrui is currently kept secret, and not many people in the industry know about it.
But since he's Yang Mi's junior brother, it's hard to say what kind of information Yang Mi might have shared with him in private.
Thinking of this, Zeng Jia did not deny it, but just smiled vaguely: "Contract matters are never smooth sailing."
"Then it's true."
Guan Shengbai had an "I knew it" look on his face, and then, as if he had made up his mind, he spoke a little faster.
"Sister Zeng, let me be frank. You're Sister Mi's manager now, but if something really goes wrong between Sister Mi and Mei Ya, you'll definitely side with Sister Mi, right?"
Zeng Jia did not answer immediately, but narrowed her eyes slightly.
Guan Shengbai seemed oblivious to her scrutiny and continued, "If I sign with you, what if you and Sister Mi... well, separate from Mei Ya? What will I do then? Who will I be considered then?"
He spoke somewhat hesitantly, his expression revealing a youthful longing and anxiety for a "stable job."
Zeng Jia almost burst out laughing when she heard this.
This child is actually worried about this.
"besides--"
Guan Shengbai seemed to have opened a floodgate, and simply poured out everything in one breath.
"I've also inquired with Sister Chai. Their company headquarters is in Taiwan, and they don't even have a proper office in mainland China."
I asked, and they don't even pay for the five social insurances and one housing fund for the mainland artists they sign.
Zeng Jia picked up her coffee cup, using the act of drinking coffee to hide the twitching at the corner of her mouth.
Five social insurances and one housing fund?
She had been an agent for nearly twenty years, and this was the first time she had ever heard an artist mention social insurance and housing fund during contract negotiations.
"So I wanted to ask Sister Zeng."
Guan Shengbai raised his head, his eyes sincere to the point of being almost naive.
"If I sign with you, will it be an individual agency contract or a company contract? If it's a company contract, will you provide the five social insurances and one housing fund?"
Zeng Jia took a deep breath and gently placed the coffee cup back on the saucer with a crisp sound.
Is this kid so good at acting that he's gone crazy?
She couldn't help but turn her head to exchange a glance with Yang Mi.
But Yang Mi was also staring at Guan Shengbai with a dumbfounded expression. Her lips moved a couple of times, but she couldn't utter a single word.
Zeng Jia picked up her coffee cup again and took a sip to suppress the absurd smile.
Come to think of it, this kid dropped out of college in his second year, and his only experience on a film set since his debut is this movie, "Tiny Times".
I've never signed with a company or negotiated an agency contract. I've only seen bits and pieces of information online, so I assumed that signing an artist contract was similar to a recent graduate looking for a job.
Five social insurances and one housing fund, how did he even come up with that?
Zeng Jia adjusted her expression, put down her cup, and gave a sincere smile.
"Xiao Bai, I won't hide it from you. Since you asked, I'll tell you the truth."
She leaned forward slightly and lowered her voice.
"Mimi's contract with Meiya is indeed about to expire."
Not only her, but I'll be going with her too. But it's not about separating from the family; it's about moving to a higher level.
"Reaching a higher level?"
Guan Shengbai blinked, looking curious.
"We have decided to switch to H&R Century Pictures."
Huanrui Century has been growing rapidly in recent years and is now one of the leading companies in mainland China.
Zeng Jia's voice was filled with more confidence, "Moreover, they have a 'major production plan,' holding several big IPs in their hands, with plenty of resources."
After Mimi and I went there, we weren't just living under their roof; we were collaborating deeply with them as a studio. We chose the resources, selected the projects, and reviewed the scripts.
She paused, saw the slight bewilderment in Guan Shengbai's eyes as if he were "digesting" something, and smiled slightly.
"You may not understand what I'm saying, but you only need to know one thing."
Sign with me, and you'll be enjoying the shade under the big tree of Huanrui.
Huanrui is a legitimate listed company, and its social insurance and housing fund benefits are just the most basic.
If you perform well, you'll receive year-end bonuses, project bonuses, and endorsement commissions—you won't miss out on any of them.
When Guan Shengbai heard the words "listed company" and "five social insurances and one housing fund," his eyes visibly lit up.
Zeng Jia accurately captured this change, and her smile deepened.
"And think about it, Mimi is your senior, and I am her manager."
Once you sign up with me, you'll be different from those newcomers who get signed by big companies and then end up gathering dust in a corner.
I'll personally connect you with the resources, and I'll personally review the script for you. All you need right now is someone knowledgeable to help you get things done.
Guan Shengbai pursed his lips, as if making a final struggle.
"And... what about the contract length?"
Five years.
Zeng Jia held up five fingers, her tone leaving no room for argument, "This is the industry standard. Five years is enough time for me to help you go from zero to the top."
Guan Shengbai lowered his head and remained silent for several seconds.
Zeng Jia didn't urge him, but simply picked up her coffee cup and slowly drank it, her eyes never leaving Guan Shengbai's face.
Finally, Guan Shengbai raised his head, his face showing a sense of relief.
"Okay, then I'll sign it for Sister Zeng. With Sister Zeng saying that, I feel relieved."
Zeng Jia put down her coffee cup, her smile as gentle as a spring breeze in March.
She extended her hand and shook hands with Guan Shengbai, the pressure just right to convey her sincerity.
"Xiaobai, you're a smart person and you've made a wise decision. I'll have my legal department draft the specific terms and send them to you. Once you've reviewed them and have no problems, you can sign them."
"it is good."
Guan Shengbai nodded, smiling cleanly and shyly.
Zeng Jia said a few more polite words, then glanced down at her watch and stood up.
"That's settled then. I have to catch my flight back to Kyoto, so I won't stay any longer. Mimi, you and Xiaobai sit for a while longer. I've already paid the bill."
After saying that, she picked up her bag and hurried out of the coffee shop.
What Zeng Jia didn't notice was that the moment she turned around, the smile on Guan Shengbai's face faded away quietly, like a thin mist blown away by the wind.
......
Only two people remained in the coffee shop.
Yang Mi picked up her now-cold latte, but didn't drink it. She just held it in her hand, staring at Guan Shengbai with a scrutinizing gaze.
"Five social insurances and one housing fund?"
There was a suppressed laugh in her voice.
Guan Shengbai leaned back, and the hesitant, petty, and naive demeanor he had just displayed vanished completely.
He leaned back on the sofa, picked up the cold Americano on the table, took a sip, and looked as composed as if he were a completely different person.
"Senior sister, your drink is cold, would you like to get a new one?"
"Don't try to change the subject."
Yang Mi put the cup on the table, leaned forward, and her bright eyes were full of inquiry.
"Five social insurances and one housing fund? Listed company? Contract length? You might fool Sister Jia, but you think you can fool me?"
Yang Mi has known Guan Shengbai for a long time.
With her junior brother's talent and comprehension, how could he possibly be this hothead who haggles over social security and housing fund?
Guan Shengbai did not answer directly, but instead suppressed his smile and asked a question in return.
"Senior sister, do you trust Zeng Jia that much?"
Yang Mi paused for a moment, then nodded without hesitation.
"I've known Sister Jia since I was a teenager. You could say that without Sister Jia, there would be no Yang Mi today. I owe everything I have to Sister Jia to get to where I am today."
She paused, her tone becoming more serious.
"I trust her just as much as she trusts me. I'm not joking with you."
Guan Shengbai was silent for a moment.
Looking into the unwavering, almost stubborn light in Yang Mi's eyes, a complex and indescribable emotion welled up within him.
He knew that this trust was genuine.
Yang Mi's trust in Zeng Jia was genuine from beginning to end.
From the time she was spotted and signed by Li Xiaowan to Rongxinda when she was a teenager, Zeng Jia has been guiding her, supporting her, and protecting her from countless attacks and sabotages.
Later, they left Rongxinda together, joined Meiya together, and now they are going to switch to Huanrui together.
Zeng Jia was always at the forefront, paving the way for her and clearing away obstacles for her.
Yang Mi remembered this kindness for more than ten years. When she later founded Jiaxing, she gave Zeng Jia shares in the company and gave Zeng Jia decision-making power.
But what was the result of this trust?
Guan Shengbai saw it all clearly in his past life.
After Jiaxing Media went public, Yang Mi became a pawn manipulated by capital.
That betting agreement was suffocating her; she had to juggle terrible dramas and variety shows, her reputation was gradually eroded, and her talent was slowly worn away.
And what about Zeng Jia?
Zeng Jia was the one who drafted the betting agreement, the one who used Yang Mi's fame as leverage to move capital, and the one who, after Yang Mi had been squeezed dry, did not hesitate to kick her out.
From beginning to end, Yang Mi was merely the most valuable commodity in Zeng Jia's hands.
But at this moment, Guan Shengbai looked at Yang Mi's bright, almost piercing eyes, yet he didn't say a word.
There's a cruel side to the entertainment industry: spending over a decade proving that a trust was wrong from the start.
He has no right to make choices for Yang Mi. She's the kind of person who won't give up until she sees the coffin with her own eyes.
"Let time prove everything."
Guan Shengbai gently placed the empty coffee cup back on the table.
Yang Mi thought he still didn't believe her, so she pouted and muttered.
"You, you're only so guarded because your family has suffered a tragedy and you've experienced the coldness of human relationships. If Jia-jie knew you were faking it just now, she'd be furious."
Guan Shengbai simply smiled and offered no explanation.
When brokers evolve into financial monsters, they often choose to trust their own analysis rather than their own eyes.
What Zeng Jia saw today was a naive and impulsive young man who was meticulous about every penny.
Once this impression takes root in Zeng Jia's mind, it will be difficult for her to overturn her judgment in a short period of time.
This "misjudgment" is precisely the buffer period he needs most right now.
He was blinded by self-interest.
At least, before Yang Mi is completely drained, Zeng Jia will most likely only see the increasing numbers on the report year by year, and won't notice how many cards Guan Shengbai has secretly accumulated.
Guan Shengbai reached out and picked up his coat from the back of the chair.
"Senior sister, let's go."
......
After resolving the matter with his agent, Guan Shengbai only needed to wait for the final scene of filming to finish tomorrow, and then he could be free to roam the skies.
Everything seems to be moving in a positive direction.
His good mood lasted until evening.
Guan Shengbai returned to his hotel room, took a hot shower, and changed into a clean white T-shirt and sweatpants.
Then he made himself a cup of black tea, turned on the bedside lamp, and leaned back in bed to continue reading the original novel "No War in Beiping," which he had almost worn out from reading it so many times.
The night view of Shanghai outside the window was tinged with an ambiguous pinkish-purple by neon lights, and the faint sound of ship horns from the Huangpu River drifted in from afar, filtered into a thin layer of background noise by the hotel's soundproof glass.
He was watching the scene where Fang Mengwei was confronting Xu Tieying in the police station when his phone screen suddenly lit up.
Guan Shengbai raised an eyebrow.
He changed this number after he was reborn, and not many people know about it.
It's just the same people in the crew, plus Teacher Chen Bing, and Director Kong, Director Li, and Wang Kai, whom I met at the dinner party in Kyoto a few days ago.
He picked up his phone and found that the sender's name was Guo Biting.
That was somewhat unexpected.
Guo Biting was incredibly quiet on set. Even at the mahjong table, she would sit quietly next to Yang Mi, and when Yang Mi made her laugh, she would just purse her lips and giggle.
Even during the period when their feelings for each other were running high, the two maintained a relatively safe distance from each other.
Moreover, she had exchanged contact information with Guan Shengbai, but had never sent him a message proactively.
Guan Shengbai opened the dialog box and only saw an address.
It is the address of a shopping mall in Shanghai, and a private room number.
He frowned, just about to type a message asking her what she meant, when a second message popped up.
Same sender, same white speech bubble.
There are only two words on it.
"Help."
When Guan Shengbai saw those two words, his pupils suddenly contracted.